Air vent

ABSTRACT

An improved air vent is disclosed comprising a vent body including a substantially vertical vent duct having a top member extending outwardly from the top of the vent duct. A plurality of ribs extend from the vent body to support the top member with the top member having a plurality of vent apertures between each of the ribs. A bottom member extends outwardly from the bottom of the vent duct to provide a base for the air vent when the air vent is cast into a hardenable material. A cover includes a top portion and a side portion for covering the top member. Means are provided for securing the cover on the vent body to form an air passage between the vent apertures and the vent duct. The air vent can be made of a plastic material to be cast in concrete for use in a home sewage treatment plant or the like.

[ May 20, 1975 Primary Examiner-William F. ODea Assistant Examiner-Peter D. Ferguson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Woodling, Krost, Granger and Rust [57] ABSTRACT An improved air vent is disclosed comprising a vent body including a substantially vertical vent duct having a top member extending outwardly from the top of the vent duct. A plurality of ribs extend from the vent body to support the top member with the top member having a plurality of vent apertures between each of the ribs. A bottom member extends outwardly from the bottom of the vent duct to provide a base for the air vent when the air vent is cast into a hardenable material. A cover includes a top portion and a side AIR VENT Inventor: Edward .1. Jordan, Mentor, Ohio Assignee: Jet Aeration Company, Cleveland,

Ohio

Filed: Jan. 25, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 436,655

US. 98/64; 98/83 Int. F241? 7/02 4/219; 98/32, 35, 37, 42, 98/64, 66, 83, 122; 210/63, 220

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS United States Patent Jordan [58] Field of Search..........

portion for covering the top member. Means are provided for securing the cover on the vent body to form an air passage between the vent apertures and the vent duct. The air vent can be made of a plastic material to be cast in concrete for use in a home sewage treatment plant or the like.

3/1942 Hosbein.................................. 1/1950 Ward, Jr

5/1962 Burke 1/1968 Stoneman et al. 11/1968 Cunliff...,............ 11/1969 Kline........

8/1972 Rosa 1/1974 Stalker.....

11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures AIR VENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to vents and more particularly to air vents established in a substantially vertical orientation with the air vent apertures being established on the underside of a cover.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art includes many varieties of air vents for various applications. One important application for air vents is in the area of home sewage treatment facilities. In recent years there has been a population migration to suburban areas requiring superior and more efficient home sewage treatment plants to accommodate this migration. Some of these sewage treatment plants incorporate an aeration process whereby air is reacted with the waste material through a pressurized air system to oxidize the waste material. It is important that the air entering the system be screened of foreign particles to prevent damage to the air pressure system and that the air vent be shielded from rain water and the like. Ideally, the air vent should have a removable cap portion to allow inspection and cleaning of the lower pressure system and be adapted for locking to eliminate unauthorized tampering with the pressure system.

A suitable air vent made of cast iron is available to the sewage treatment art. Unfortunately this cast iron unit is expensive, susceptible to corrosion and does not incorporate a suitable locking mechanism for the cap on the air vent. Many attempts were made to provide an air vent of a noncorrosive material, but such at tempts have failed due to lack of strength of the air vent structure.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide an improved air vent which is made of a plastic material and yet is sufficiently strong to replace the prior art cast iron air vents.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved air vent which has a removable cap for inspection and which removable cap may be locked in place by a locking device to prevent unauthorized tampering with the pressure unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved air vent which is not susceptible to corrosion.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved air vent which provides a double screened air passage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention may be incorporated in an air vent, comprising in combination: a vent body including a substantially vertical vent duct, a top member extending outwardly from the vent duct, rib means extend from the outside surface of the vent duct for supporting said top member; a cover including a top portion and a side portion established to cover the top member when the cover is located on the vent body; vent aperture means in one of the top member and the side portion and shielded by at least a portion of the cover when the cover is on the vent body. and means for securing the cover on the vent body to form an air passage between the vent aperture means and the vent duct.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a body of an air vent;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the air vent body shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a screen for installation in the vent body of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the screen shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a cover for cooperation with the vent body shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the cover shown in FIG. 5; and,

FIG. 7 is the preferred embodiment showing a side view of the air vent cast in a hardenable material.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 is a side view of a vent body 10 including a substantially vertical vent duct 12 shown as a tapered cylinder having an axis of symmetry 13. A top member 15 extends outwardly from the vent duct 12 in a generally horizontal direction shown as a plane surface at substantially the top of the vent duct 12. A bottom member 17 extends outwardly from the vent duct 12 in a generally horizontal direction also shown as a plane surface at substantially the bottom of the vent duct 12. The bottom member provides a stable base for the vent body 10 when the air vent is cast into a hardenable material. Rib means shown as a plurality of ribs 19, 20, 21 and 22 extend from the outside surface of the vent duct 12 for supporting the top member 15. Rib 19 has a locking aperture 18 for receiving the ring ofa lock such as a key lock or a combination lock. A plurality of cover projections 23, 24, 25 and 26 extend from the vent body 10 in a generally vertical direction above the top member 15 substantially parallel to the axis 13.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the vent body 10 shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the top member 15, the bottom member 17 joined by the vent duct 12 and the plural equally spaced ribs 19, 20, 21 and 22. Rib 19 is reinforced by an increase thickness to provide additional strength for the locking aperture 18. The top member 15 includes vent aperture means shown as at least one vent aperture 27, 28, 29 and 30 between each of the adjacent ribs 19-22. In this embodiment, eight vent apertures are provided between each of the ribs 19-22 to provide adequate air flow capacity through the vent duct 12. The vent apertures 27-30 provide a screened air flow to eliminate the possibility of solid particles above a given undesirable size entering the air vent. Particles above a given size may disturb the operation of the pressure unit which provides aeration of the waste material. Cover projections 23, 24, 25 and 26 are equally spaced about the vent duct 12 and provide spaces therebetween to enable air flow from the vent apertures 27-30 to the vent duct 12 when a cover is engaged with the cover projections 23-26. A first and a second detent 31 and 32 are established on the circumference of the top member 15 with a lower portion of the circumference having a first and a second undercut 36 and 37 extending at least 10 in rotation from the first and second detents 31 and 32, respectively. In this embodiment the first and second undercuts 36 and 37 are shown extending approximately 45 in rotation from the center of the first and second detents 31 and 32. The included are of detent 31 is greater than the included arc of detent 32 to provide a key for a cover assembly. A mounting ring 39 is established at the upper end of the vent duct 12 for providing means for mounting a screen 40 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIGv 3 is a top view of the screen 40 comprising a plurality of apertures including apertures 41, 42, and 43. The screen 40 has screen projections 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50 to press fit the screen 40 into mounting ring 39 as shown by the phantom position in FIG. 1. The screen 40 provides protection from falling matter when a cover is removed from the vent body 10.

FIG. 4 is a side view of screen 40 illustrating the thickness of the screen and the extent of the projections 4548. The screen 40 is press fit into the ring mounting 39 for easy removal or for changing the screen size for various applications.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of cover 56 which includes a top portion 58 and a side portion 59. The side portion 59 has a first and a second tab 61 and 62 extending inwardly from the side portion 59 for cooperation with the first and second detents 31 and 32 and the first and second undercuts 36 and 37 of the vent body 10. The top portion 58 covers the top member 15 with the side portion 59 encompassing the extremity of the top member 15 when the top portion 58 is resting on the cover projections 2326 and the first and second tabs 61 and 62 are inserted into the first and second detents 31 and 32. The first tab 61 has a greater included angle than the second tab 62 for cooperation with the first and second detents 31 and 32 respectively, so the cover 56 can be placed upon the vent body in only one preferred direction.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of FIG. 5 illustrating the first tab 61 in greater detail. A lower side portion 59A of the cover 56 extends below the top member when the first and second tabs 61 and 62 are inserted into the first and second detents 31 and 32. A locking shield 64 extends below the side portion 59 to cooperate with the locking aperture 18 upon rotation of the cover 56 on the vent body 10. Rotation of the cover 56 moves the first and second tabs 61 and 62 from the first and second detents 31 and 32 into engagement with the first and second undercuts 36 and 37 respectively to secure the cover 56 on the vent body 10. The locking shield 64 is positioned on cover 56 to be adjacent the locking aperture 18 upon rotation of the cover 56. Thus an air flow path is established from underneath the top member through the vent apertures 27-30 and between the cover projections 23-26 through screen 40 to the bottom of vent duct 12.

FIG. 7 is the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating the air vent comprising the vent body 10 and cover 56 cast into a hardenable material 66 shown as a concrete cover for a septic tank or the like. The vent duct 12 receives a vent tube 68 which extends up from a lower aerator unit. The bottom member 17 is used for supporting the vent body 10 in an upright position during the casting process. An air flow path is shown by the arrows through the vent apertures 27 and 30 and the spaces between cover projections 23, 24 and 25 and screen 40 to the vent duct 12 and vent tube 68. The hardenable material 66 has a substantially horizontal top surface 70 which covers a substantial portion of the vent duct 12. The cover 56 is shown secured to the vent body 10.with the lower portion 59A of the side portion 59 completely covering the top member 15.

The locking shield 64 is positioned adjacent the locking aperture 18 with a locking ring 72 of a lock 74, shown as a combination lock inserted through the locking aperture 18. The lock 74 is supported in a substantially horizontal position by the top surface of the hardenable material 66. The locking shield 64 extends through the locking ring 72 of lock 74 to prevent rotation of the cover 56 on the vent body 10 to prevent removal by unauthorized personnel.

The invention has been described as an air vent comprising in combination a vent body 10 including a substantially vertical vent duct 12 with a top member 15 extending outwardly from the vent duct 12. Rib means shown in this embodiment to be plural rib means 1922, extend from the outside surface of the vent duct 12 for supporting the top member 15. A cover 56 including a top portion 58 and side portion 59 covers the top member 15 when the cover 58 is located on the vent body 10. Vent aperture means are shown located in the top member or the side portion and shielded by at least a portion of the cover 56 when the cover is on the vent body 10. In this embodiment the vent aperture means are shown as vent apertures 27-30 located in the top member 15 but it is understood that such vent apertures may be included within the side portion of the cover or between the side portion of cover 56 and the top member 5. Means are provided for securing the cover 56 on the vent body 10 to form an air passage between the vent apertures 2730 and the vent duct 12. The vent body 10 and the cover 56 can each be molded of a single piece of plastic such as a polycarbonate or Acrylonitrile-Butadinene-Styrene (ABS) or a similar material.

The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An air vent, comprising in combination:

a vent body including a substantially vertical vent duct,

a top member extending outwardly from said vent duct,

rib means extending from the outside surface of said vent duct for supporting said top member;

a cover including a top portion and a side portion established to cover said top member when said cover is located on said vent body;

vent aperture means in one of said top member and said side portion and shielded by at least a portion of said cover when said cover is on said vent body,

a plurality of cover projections extending from said vent body in a generally vertical direction for supporting said cover;

means for securing said cover on said vent body to form an air passage between said vent aperture means and said vent duct;

and a screen assembly mounted in said vent duct to provide a screen in said air passage of said air vent.

2. An air vent as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rib means includes a plurality of ribs spaced about said vent body,

and wherein said vent aperture means includes at least one vent aperture in said top member between said ribs.

3. An air vent as set forth in claim 1, wherein said side portion encompasses the extremity of said top member when said cover is located on said vent body.

4. An air vent as set forth in claim 1, including means for locking said cover on said vent body.

5. An air vent as set forth in claim 1, including a bottom member extending outwardly from said vent body to provide a base for said air vent.

6. An air vent comprising in combination:

a vent body including a substantially vertical vent duct,

said vent duct having a first taper from bottom to top relative to the air vent;

a top member extending outwardly from said vent duct,

rib means extending from the outside surface of said vent duct for supporting said top member;

said rib means having a second taper from top to bottom relative to the air vent which complements said first taper to provide uniform stability to the air vent;

a cover including a top portion and a side portion established to cover said top member when said cover is located on said vent body;

vent aperture means in one of said top member and said side portion and shielded by at least a portion of said cover when said cover is on said vent body;

and means for securing said cover on said vent body to form an air passage between said vent aperture means and said vent duct.

7. An air vent for casting into a hardenable material having a substantially horizontal top surface, comprising in combination:

a vent body including a substantially vertical vent duct,

a top member extending outwardly from said vent duct in a generally horizontal direction at substantially the top of said vent duct in a generally horizontal direction at substantially the top of said vent duct,

a bottom member extending outwardly from said vent duct in a generally horizontal direction at substantially the bottom of said vent duct to provide a base for said air vent during the casting process,

a plurality of ribs extending from the outside surface of said vent body to support said top member,

said top member having at least one vent aperture located between said ribs,

first engaging means on said top member,

a screen;

means for mounting said screen in said vent duct for providing a screened air passage of said vent duct;

3 cover including a top portion and a side portion,

said top portion established to cover said top member with said side portion encompassing the extremity of said top member when said cover is located on said vent body,

second engaging means on said cover for cooperation with said first engaging means of said top member to secure said cover to said vent body providing an air flow path between said vent apertures and the bottom of said vent duct;

and locking means for locking said cover on said vent body.

8. An air vent for casting into a hardenable material having a substantially horizontal top surface, comprising in combination:

a vent body including a substantially vertical vent duct,

a top member extending outwardly from said vent duct in a generally horizontal direction at substantially the top of said vent duct,

a bottom member extending outwardly from said vent duct in a generally horizontal direction at substantially the bottom of said vent duct to provide a base for said air vent during the casting process,

a plurality of ribs extending from the outside surface of said vent body to support said top member,

said top member having at least one vent aperture located between said ribs,

first engaging means on said top member,

a screen;

means for mounting said screen to said vent body for providing a screened air passage of said vent duct;

a cover including a top portion and a side portion,

said top portion established to cover said top member with said side portion encompassing the extremity of said top member when said cover is located on said vent body,

a plurality of cover projections extending from said vent body in a generally vertical direction for supporting said top portion of said cover,

second engaging means on said cover for cooperation with said first engaging means of said top member to secure said cover to said vent body providing an air flow path between said vent apertures and the bottom of said vent duct;

and locking means for locking said cover on said vent body.

9. An air vent as set forth in claim 7, wherein said locking means includes one of said ribs having a locking aperture for receiving a ring of a lock and a locking shield extending downwardly from said cover into the ring of the lock when the lock is in a substantially horizontal position.

10. A plastic air vent for casting into a hardenable material having a substantially horizontal top surface, comprising in combination:

a vent body including a substantially vertical vent duct,

a top member extending outwardly from said vent duct in a generally horizontal direction at substantially the top of said vent duct,

. a bottom member extending outwardly from said vent duct in a generally horizontal direction at substantially the bottom of said vent duct to provide a base for said air vent during the casting process,

a plurality of ribs extending from the outside surface of said vent body to support said top member,

one of said ribs being reinforced and having a locking aperture for receiving a locking ring of a lock,

said top member having at least one vent aperture located between each of said plurality of ribs,

said top member having a first and second detent on the circumference of said top member with a lower portion of the circumference of said top member having a first and a second undercut extending at 7 8 least 10 in rotation from said first and second desecond detents, tents, respectively, said first and second tabs engaging said first and seea plurality of cover projections extending from said ond undercuts upon rotation of said cover providvent body in a generally vertical direction; ing an air flow path between said vent apertures a screen, and the bottom of said vent body; means for mounting said screen on said vent body to and a locking shield extending below said side porprovide a screened air passage of said vent duct; tion for projecting into the locking ring of the lock a cover including a top portion and a side portion, when the locking ring is extending through said said side portion having a first and a second tab exlocking aperture when the lock is substantially hortending therefrom for cooperation with said first izontal to enable locking of said cover on said vent and second detent and undercuts of said top membody. ber, 11. An air vent as set forth in claim 10, including said top portion established to cover said top member means establishing said first and second detents and tab with said top portion of said cover resting on said to be keyed to enable cooperation only between said cover projections with said side portion encomfirst and second detents with said first and second tabs, passing the extremity of said top member when said respectively. first and second tabs are located in said first and 

1. An air vent, comprising in combination: a vent body including a substantially vertical vent duct, a top member extending outwardly from said vent duct, rib means extending from the outside surface of said vent duct for supporting said top member; a cover including a top portion and a side portion established to cover said top member when said cover is located on said vent body; vent aperture means in one of said top member and said side portion and shielded by at least a portion of said cover when said cover is on said vent body, a plurality of cover projections extending from said vent body in a generally vertical direction for supporting said cover; means for securing said cover on said vent body to form an air passage between said vent aperture means and said vent duct; and a screen assembly mounted in said vent duct to provide a screen in said air passage of said air vent.
 2. An air vent as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rib means includes a plurality of ribs spaced about said vent body, and wherein said vent aperture means includes at least one vent aperture in said top member between said ribs.
 3. An air vent as set forth in claim 1, wherein said side portion encompasses the extremity of said top member when said cover is located on said vent body.
 4. An air vent as set forth in claim 1, including means for locking said cover on said vent body.
 5. An air vent as set forth in claim 1, including a bottom member extending outwardly from said vent body to provide a base for said air vent.
 6. An air vent comprising in combination: a vent body including a substantially vertical vent duct, said vent duct having a first taper from bottom to top relative to the air vent; a top member extending outwardly from said vent duct, rib means extending from the outside surface of said vent duct for supporting said top member; said rib means having a second taper from top to bottom relative to the air vent which complements said first taper to provide uniform stability to the air vent; a cover including a top portion and a side portion established to cover said top member when said cover is located on said vent body; vent aperture means iN one of said top member and said side portion and shielded by at least a portion of said cover when said cover is on said vent body; and means for securing said cover on said vent body to form an air passage between said vent aperture means and said vent duct.
 7. An air vent for casting into a hardenable material having a substantially horizontal top surface, comprising in combination: a vent body including a substantially vertical vent duct, a top member extending outwardly from said vent duct in a generally horizontal direction at substantially the top of said vent duct in a generally horizontal direction at substantially the top of said vent duct, a bottom member extending outwardly from said vent duct in a generally horizontal direction at substantially the bottom of said vent duct to provide a base for said air vent during the casting process, a plurality of ribs extending from the outside surface of said vent body to support said top member, said top member having at least one vent aperture located between said ribs, first engaging means on said top member, a screen; means for mounting said screen in said vent duct for providing a screened air passage of said vent duct; a cover including a top portion and a side portion, said top portion established to cover said top member with said side portion encompassing the extremity of said top member when said cover is located on said vent body, second engaging means on said cover for cooperation with said first engaging means of said top member to secure said cover to said vent body providing an air flow path between said vent apertures and the bottom of said vent duct; and locking means for locking said cover on said vent body.
 8. An air vent for casting into a hardenable material having a substantially horizontal top surface, comprising in combination: a vent body including a substantially vertical vent duct, a top member extending outwardly from said vent duct in a generally horizontal direction at substantially the top of said vent duct, a bottom member extending outwardly from said vent duct in a generally horizontal direction at substantially the bottom of said vent duct to provide a base for said air vent during the casting process, a plurality of ribs extending from the outside surface of said vent body to support said top member, said top member having at least one vent aperture located between said ribs, first engaging means on said top member, a screen; means for mounting said screen to said vent body for providing a screened air passage of said vent duct; a cover including a top portion and a side portion, said top portion established to cover said top member with said side portion encompassing the extremity of said top member when said cover is located on said vent body, a plurality of cover projections extending from said vent body in a generally vertical direction for supporting said top portion of said cover, second engaging means on said cover for cooperation with said first engaging means of said top member to secure said cover to said vent body providing an air flow path between said vent apertures and the bottom of said vent duct; and locking means for locking said cover on said vent body.
 9. An air vent as set forth in claim 7, wherein said locking means includes one of said ribs having a locking aperture for receiving a ring of a lock and a locking shield extending downwardly from said cover into the ring of the lock when the lock is in a substantially horizontal position.
 10. A plastic air vent for casting into a hardenable material having a substantially horizontal top surface, comprising in combination: a vent body including a substantially vertical vent duct, a top member extending outwardly from said vent duct in a generally horizontal direction at substantially the top of said vent duct, a bottom member extending outwardly from said vent duct in a generally horizontal direction at substantially the bottom of said vent duct to provide a base for said air vent during the casting process, a plurality of ribs extending from the outside surface of said vent body to support said top member, one of said ribs being reinforced and having a locking aperture for receiving a locking ring of a lock, said top member having at least one vent aperture located between each of said plurality of ribs, said top member having a first and second detent on the circumference of said top member with a lower portion of the circumference of said top member having a first and a second undercut extending at least 10* in rotation from said first and second detents, respectively, a plurality of cover projections extending from said vent body in a generally vertical direction; a screen, means for mounting said screen on said vent body to provide a screened air passage of said vent duct; a cover including a top portion and a side portion, said side portion having a first and a second tab extending therefrom for cooperation with said first and second detent and undercuts of said top member, said top portion established to cover said top member with said top portion of said cover resting on said cover projections with said side portion encompassing the extremity of said top member when said first and second tabs are located in said first and second detents, said first and second tabs engaging said first and second undercuts upon rotation of said cover providing an air flow path between said vent apertures and the bottom of said vent body; and a locking shield extending below said side portion for projecting into the locking ring of the lock when the locking ring is extending through said locking aperture when the lock is substantially horizontal to enable locking of said cover on said vent body.
 11. An air vent as set forth in claim 10, including means establishing said first and second detents and tab to be keyed to enable cooperation only between said first and second detents with said first and second tabs, respectively. 